Analyze Spec

Spec Analysis Skill

You are initiating the spec analysis workflow. This process will analyze an existing spec for quality issues and optionally guide the user through resolving them interactively.

Workflow

Step 1: Validate File

Verify the spec file exists at the provided path. If not found:

• Check if user provided relative path and try common locations
• Use Glob to search for similar filenames
• Ask user for correct path if needed

Step 2: Read Spec Content

Read the entire spec file using the Read tool.

Step 3: Detect Depth Level

Analyze the spec content to detect its depth level:

Full-Tech Indicators (check first):

• Contains API Specifications section OR ### 7.4 API or similar
• Contains API endpoint definitions (POST /api/, GET /api/, etc.)
• Contains Testing Strategy section
• Contains data model schemas

Detailed Indicators:

• Uses numbered sections (## 1., ### 2.1)
• Contains Technical Architecture section
• Contains user stories (**US-001**: or similar format)
• Contains acceptance criteria

High-Level Indicators:

• Contains feature table with Priority column
• Executive summary focus
• No user stories or acceptance criteria
• Shorter document (~50-100 lines)

Detection Priority:

1. If Full-Tech indicators found → Full-Tech
2. Else if Detailed indicators found → Detailed
3. Else if High-Level indicators found → High-Level
4. Default → Detailed

Step 4: Check Settings

Check for settings at .claude/sdd-tools.local.md to get:

• Author name (if configured)
• Any custom preferences

Step 5: Determine Report Path

The analysis report should be saved in the same directory as the spec with .analysis.md suffix:

• Spec: specs/SPEC-User-Auth.md
• Report: specs/SPEC-User-Auth.analysis.md

Extract the spec filename and construct the report path.

Step 6: Launch Analyzer Agent

Launch the Spec Analyzer Agent using the Task tool with subagent_type sdd-tools:spec-analyzer.

Provide this context in the prompt:

Analyze the spec at: {spec_path}

Spec Content:
{full_spec_content}

Detected Depth Level: {depth_level}
Report Output Path: {report_path}
Author: {author_from_settings or "Not specified"}

Instructions:
1. Load the analysis skill and reference files
2. Perform systematic analysis based on the depth level
3. Generate the analysis report
4. Present findings summary
5. Ask if user wants to enter update mode
6. If yes, guide through interactive resolution
7. Update report with final resolution status

Step 7: Handoff Complete

Once you have launched the Analyzer Agent, your role is complete. The agent will handle:

• Loading analysis criteria for the depth level
• Performing comprehensive analysis
• Generating and saving the report
• Interactive update mode (if requested)
• Updating the spec with approved changes

Example Usage

/sdd-tools:analyze-spec specs/SPEC-User-Authentication.md

This will:

1. Read the spec at the specified path
2. Detect it's a Detailed-level spec
3. Analyze for issues across all four categories
4. Save report to specs/SPEC-User-Authentication.analysis.md
5. Offer interactive resolution mode

Notes

• Always read the full spec before launching the analyzer
• Depth detection determines which criteria apply
• Report is always saved alongside the spec
• The analyzer agent handles all user interaction for resolution

Analysis Philosophy

Depth-Aware Analysis

Spec analysis must respect the intended depth level of the document. A high-level spec should not be flagged for missing API specifications, just as a full-tech spec should be scrutinized for technical completeness.

Key Principle: Only flag what's expected at the document's depth level.

Constructive Approach

Findings should be:

• Actionable: Clear recommendation for how to fix
• Specific: Exact location and description of issue
• Prioritized: Severity indicates importance
• Helpful: Explain why this matters, not just what's wrong

Systematic Coverage

Analysis covers four distinct categories to ensure comprehensive review:

1. Inconsistencies: Internal contradictions or mismatches
2. Missing Information: Expected content that's absent
3. Ambiguities: Unclear or vague statements
4. Structure Issues: Formatting, organization, missing sections

Finding Categories

1. Inconsistencies

Issues where the spec contradicts itself or uses conflicting information.

What to Look For:

• Feature named differently in different sections
• Priority mismatches (feature marked P2 but in Phase 1)
• Metrics that don't align with stated goals
• Contradictory requirements
• Timeline/phase misalignment

Detection Strategy:

1. Build glossary of feature names from first mention
2. Track priority assignments
3. Map goals to metrics
4. Compare requirements for conflicts

2. Missing Information

Expected content that is absent based on the spec's depth level.

What to Look For:

• Required sections for depth level
• Undefined technical terms
• Features without acceptance criteria (detailed/full-tech)
• Error scenarios not addressed
• Dependencies not listed
• Incomplete personas

Detection Strategy:

1. Compare against depth-level checklist
2. Identify domain terms without definitions
3. Check each feature for expected attributes
4. Scan for external system references

3. Ambiguities

Statements that are unclear or could be interpreted multiple ways.

What to Look For:

• Vague quantifiers ("fast", "many", "scalable")
• Undefined priority language ("should" vs "must")
• Ambiguous pronouns ("it", "this", "they")
• Open-ended lists ("etc.", "and more")
• Undefined scope boundaries

Detection Strategy:

1. Flag quantifiers without numbers
2. Check for RFC 2119 language consistency
3. Identify pronouns with unclear antecedents
4. Find incomplete enumerations

4. Structure Issues

Problems with document organization, formatting, or references.

What to Look For:

• Missing required sections
• Content in wrong section
• Inconsistent formatting
• Orphaned references
• Circular dependencies

Detection Strategy:

1. Verify all template sections exist
2. Check content placement logic
3. Validate formatting consistency
4. Test all internal references

Severity Levels

Critical

Definition: Issues that would cause implementation to fail or go significantly wrong.

Assign When:

• Fundamental contradiction in requirements
• Core requirement completely undefined
• Required section missing entirely
• Circular dependencies that block implementation
• Security requirement absent (when security is mentioned)

Examples:

• "User authentication required" but no auth requirements defined
• Feature A depends on Feature B, Feature B depends on Feature A
• Full-tech spec with no API specifications

Warning

Definition: Issues that could cause confusion or implementation problems.

Assign When:

• Inconsistent naming that could cause misunderstanding
• Acceptance criteria too vague to test
• Important feature lacks error handling
• Ambiguous language for significant functionality
• Minor dependencies unlisted

Examples:

• "Search should be fast" without defining "fast"
• User story without acceptance criteria
• Integration mentioned but not in dependencies

Suggestion

Definition: Improvements that would enhance spec quality but aren't blocking.

Assign When:

• Style or clarity improvements
• Non-critical sections could be clearer
• Best practices not followed
• Minor formatting inconsistencies
• Documentation enhancements

Examples:

• User stories formatted inconsistently
• Glossary would help but isn't critical
• Additional context would be helpful

Analysis Workflow

Step 1: Read and Detect Depth

1. Read the entire spec
2. Detect depth level using indicators (see references/analysis-criteria.md)
3. Note the detected depth for criteria selection

Step 2: Load Criteria

Load the appropriate checklist from references/analysis-criteria.md based on detected depth level.

Step 3: Systematic Scan

Analyze the spec section by section:

1. Structure Scan: Verify all required sections exist
2. Consistency Scan: Build glossary, track priorities, map goals to metrics
3. Completeness Scan: Check each feature for expected attributes
4. Clarity Scan: Flag vague language and ambiguities

Step 4: Categorize and Prioritize

For each finding:

1. Assign to one of four categories
2. Determine severity based on impact
3. Identify specific location (section, line)
4. Draft recommendation

Step 5: Generate Report

Create report using references/report-template.md:

1. Fill in header information
2. Calculate summary statistics
3. List findings by severity
4. Write overall assessment

Update Mode Workflow

When entering update mode for interactive resolution:

Finding Presentation

Present each finding with:

FINDING X/Y (N resolved, M skipped)

Category: {category}
Severity: {severity}
Location: {section, line}

CURRENT:
{Quoted text from spec}

ISSUE:
{Clear explanation of the problem}

PROPOSED:
{Suggested fix text}

[Apply] [Modify] [Skip]

User Response Handling

Apply:

1. Use Edit tool to apply the proposed change
2. Mark finding as "Resolved" in report
3. Increment resolved counter
4. Move to next finding

Modify:

1. Ask user for their preferred text via AskUserQuestion
2. Apply their modified version
3. Mark finding as "Resolved"
4. Move to next finding

Skip:

1. Ask if they want to provide a reason (optional)
2. Mark finding as "Skipped" with reason if provided
3. Increment skipped counter
4. Move to next finding

Session Completion

After all findings processed:

1. Update report with Resolution Summary
2. Show final statistics
3. List resolved and skipped findings
4. Provide recommendations for future specs

Reference Files

• references/analysis-criteria.md - Depth-specific checklists and detection algorithms
• references/report-template.md - Standard report format
• references/common-issues.md - Issue pattern library with examples